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My Ortho hand specialist told me PT wouldn't help. I was surprised since I heard he was a board certified hand specialist. He took 3 X-rays, did manual test. Gave me 3 options-- wear a brace, get a cortisone shot or surgery. I'm using a brace, looking for exercises and using an arnica arthritis cream. Hopefully I can get it to calm down
Spent the last 16 weeks following my doctors exercises with no luck at all, I’ve followed yours for a day and my wrist is already feeling better. Honestly, you have saved me. Had my life on hold because of De Quervains and now I feel like I can see a time where I am going to be better! Thank you so much for this video
Love hearing this Holly! Thanks so much for leaving a comment. I’m glad you’re finally getting some relief. You should definitely definitely check out my full article on DeQuervain’s so you understand all of the do’s and dont’s about it: pttimewithtim.com/de-quervain-tenosynovitis-exercises/
how did it go after a few weeks? I've had this condition for 3 months, but there are DOZENS of these videos... everyone has their own techniques :/ can't seem to find a winning combo yet... uhhh i hate this
I've been suffering from this for the past few weeks. Althought I can't do the thumb stretch exercise because my tendonitis is bad and hurts like crazy. I was able to complete the rest of it. Thank you for sharing the knowledge. I Will attempt to do the thumb stretch soon.
Thanks for the comment, David. Glad you were able to do most of the exercises without issue. It’s perfectly fine to skip any of them and revisit them once the symptoms have decreased significantly. I would also highly recommend that you read my article on this condition as it has some important information on alternative treatment options and prevention techniques. You can find it here: pttimewithtim.com/de-quervain-tenosynovitis-exercises/
Thank You I i’ve been in soo much agonizing pain the last few days with my wrist and thumb due to working out really hard every day with my wrist. I have small wrist to begin with and I tried these exercises you did thinking it wouldn’t help because that’s what got me in the situation I’m inbut unbelievably I’m 70% better 24 hours later. Thank you so much.
I’ve been silently screaming all day- sat down and have done this video. Thumb feels better - thank you- will keep this up. Please what can I use until I get the flexi rod thing?
Hey Tim it’s been 4 months I have been suffering from same problem.at initial time I took steroid injection because I had my exam where I had to write for long hours where after that the condition has got improved but again after that from 10-15 days the I’m suffering from pain and tingling in thumb ..please suggest something my whole carrier is depend on my thumb …mainly pain is in forearm and thumb joint it increased when I do writing
Sorry to hear about your condition. Sounds like you're in a tricky spot where you can't fully rest the thumb since you'll need to use it to some extent most days. Have you tried wearing a thumb spica splint daily? You definitely should read my in-depth post on this condition as it will explain the condition, what to do/not do, alternative treatment options, etc. You can find it here: pttimewithtim.com/de-quervain-tenosynovitis-exercises/
@@PTTimewithTim yes u have tried splint but it didn’t gave me any relief plz suggest the way for me I and now days doing muscle relaxations and dose it have any permanent cure measures ? Thanks Tim
Thank you very much for the video and the detailed explanations. I have pain in my thumb and wrist for about three months; I can only move my thumb with difficulty. After doing the exercises it has improved a bit. I'm doing the exercises for the second time today! I have watched countless other videos to try to solve the problem, but some of them have made my condition even worse. Thank you also for the other tips and advices on your website. I was never sure whether I should wear a thumb spica splint or not because I heard/read that it could make the condition worse. I believed these statements even though my gut told me otherwise. I will implement your recommendations as described. I will also take ibuprofen for a week in the hope of getting the inflammation under control. I am trying everything to avoid surgery. I will report back.
I feel like at this point theres no.pain. just a stiffness when bending the wrist. Ill add these excersises to the routine. Im trying to do these for at least another month or 2 before i give into a shot/surgery
My 7weeks baby fell while I was breastfeeding 😢 my hands couldn't grip and my wrist was painful I watched my daughter fall because I couldn't do anything
That’s so scary, Martha. This type of condition can really be limiting. Did you check out my article on this topic yet? It has some recommended wrist braces that you might want to try to help reduce the stress on the tendons. You can find it here: pttimewithtim.com/de-quervain-tenosynovitis-exercises/
Thanks tremendously for your advice and the exercises you mentioned i really needed that doctor .i suffered from wrist ,thumb and finger pain and this dates back to a couple of months.Please, i almost hold my phone🤳all day long. So,does it trigger dequervain disease ? Is this this disease similar to carpal tunnel disease?? Gonna give yor exercises a try without any doubt.Thanks for your hard work.👏👏👏👏
Hello Rose, DeQuervains and Carpal Tunnel are completely different conditions with distinguishable differences in symptoms. However, both of the conditions can be caused by holding your phone all day. I would highly recommend that you go to my website pttimewithtim.com and read through both of my articles on each of these two conditions as I help you navigate the differences between the two and treatment options for each.
@@jacobperry426my right thumb went out on me Christmas day in 2021. I had a brace on it up until last October. My left hand decided to go out last May. It's still acting up but it's not as bad as the right hand was to begin with. Right hand is pretty much okay. It just doesn't end
@@UlexiteTVStoneLexite it sucks, I’ll have a few months where I’m like ok maybe it’s gonna go away, I can ride my bike and be fine, then I’ll have days or weeks where I can’t even pull in my clutch without having pain that feels like my wrist will give up, bad part is I’ve babied my left wrist so long that my right wrist is having problems
@@jacobperry426 yep I'm sure that's what happened with me. After over a year of going easy on the right my left hand just had enough. I have to use talk to text because I can't even type anymore and I am petting my cat right now and I closed my thumb to pet the cat and that hurt 🤣. Trying to carry stuff as a pain in the butt and it even hurt my right hand the other day to try to pick up a large box that wasn't even that heavy it was just too wide for my hand.
Hey Tim thank you for the suggestions! Although I have a question, how would you recommend to do this exercise, like all of them in a sit, mix one or two per day, one each day,...? Thank you!
Thanks of the question. Typically, you do them all around the same time, but if you’re limited on time, then you can certainly do them spread out throughout the day. You should check out my full article on treating this condition including expectations, alternative treatments, etc. you can find it here: pttimewithtim.com/de-quervain-tenosynovitis-exercises/
Been dealing with this for 6 months. Corticosteroid injection and Occupational therapy helped but not enough. Three days and feeling better!! Thank you!
Ooh can I please ask a question I have tried different braces I also doing thru my work competive motion in my wrist right where the wrist begins below the thumb area like really tight you have or had the same experience where it jys hurts to use a pair of scissors to cut something thanks do much if you can answer
What is it when your hands and arms are actually nice and strong but your muscles actually injure your tendons. No doctors seem to know/understand this. Even the band inside around my wrist tore. My hand surgeon could only see it with an ultra sound. My heel pulled away from the cartalig. Big toe tore off the cartalig. My thumbs tear out of their joints. What could it be? They say I don't have Ehlers Danlos syndrome but my mother, my son and 2 daughters do. It's debilitating for me, I just lift a skillet although strong enough but my tendons injure, feels like broken bones but x-rays show nothing broken. I've been this way all my life but now past middle age it's chronic.
Hi Dr. Tim thanks for the video. Sometime my thumb get stuck and it gives me pain a lot and my entire hand starts paining. Hope these exercises will help me
Sounds like a severe case of this to the point where it’s developing into trigger finger (or thumb for this matter). Take a read into my full article on DeQuervain’s as there are some other treatment options that you can include with these exercises. pttimewithtim.com/de-quervain-tenosynovitis-exercises/
The flex bar is what caused my thumb tendonitis when I had none previously, while treating bilateral epicondylitis (which i got 2 weeks into my shoulder surgery). I would not recommend using them at all. Now I have two issues I'm treating. I also didn't know i cubits varus elbows. Been doing PT for 3 years and PRP injections. My only other option is surgery per my physician for my elbows at this point.
Mine feels like it almost pops or like gravel when I try to grip or rotate my thumb. The sharp pain has passed slightly. But it startles me when I grip and lift. Like carry a plate or open my hand to grip a large glass.
Unfortunately, these can all be common symptoms of irritation within the sheath that surrounds the tendon of the thumb. I recommend that you read my in-depth article on this condition, which explains what to do and not do and alternative treatment options. You can find it here: pttimewithtim.com/de-quervain-tenosynovitis-exercises/
I’m glad they’re helping! These stretches can be done daily when dealing with wrist pain or just a few times per week if you’re just looking for more of a maintenance program. Thanks for watching!
I would recommend that you read through my full article on this condition as it has some really helpful information on activities to avoid, alternative treatment options, and it has all of the exercises with the dosage for each (towards the bottom of the article). You can find it here: pttimewithtim.com/de-quervain-tenosynovitis-exercises/
when i so exercises etc its fine that during sleep thumb tendon catches on the wrist sheath and causes jolts of pain so it’s an initially delayed effect
Thanks for the comment! I actually have all of the exercises with dosages in my article, which you can find here: pttimewithtim.com/de-quervain-tenosynovitis-exercises/
I’m scheduled for surgery but I’ve gone to a massage therapist and tried other youtube videos with exercises but this is the first time in a month that I actually feel relief, thank you so much, I don’t remember the last time I didn’t feel the constant pain.
Thank you for the video. I see many videos for De Quervain but not for other extensors (mine is 3rd), I'll try to apply the same method but would be nice to have a video about it.
Tim, thank you for this video. Honestly best video I’ve come across about this issue. Very detailed and informative. If you ever come across this comment, could you elaborate how often we should exercise? Whenever my kids accidently hit my wrist area, it hurts so much and i’m wondering if i should continue to exercise through the pain or let it rest a few days before continuing? At the same time, when i let it rest for too long, I feel like the tendons tighten even more. Also I need to use my wrist on day to day for my job as well, do you think its adding to stress to my wrist? I did get those ergonomic keyboard and mouse though Thanks in advance!
Thanks for the thoughtful comment! Typically the massage, stretches, and submaximal isometrics can be done multiple times per day. The other harder exercises can be done once a day. Start out with just the easier exercises until the pain has begun to decrease and the harder exercises can be performed without any significant increases in pain. This is an overuse condition, so wearing a thumb spica splint during the day is very important to help prevent continued use and irritation of the tendon. You should read my full article on this topic, so you understand the causes, prevention, and other treatment options that can help it. Find it here: pttimewithtim.com/de-quervain-tenosynovitis-exercises/
@@PTTimewithTim That makes sense Tim and I appreciate your quick response. I will definitely look into this article shortly. Thank you for the recommendation. I guess the recovery timeline varies as some people have more severe cases… just hoping I can get rid of this pain by building up muscles. I actually got an steroid injection in June and pain was gone 2 weeks after. However, the pain came back just 3 months later and since then I’ve just been trying to build up my muscles gradually as I don’t want to get another injection since it may be bad for my wrist area in the long run.
But they made me worse great question ice or heat been using heat on andoff like today seems to really help the pain taking me away from my hobby ughhh hope you excersice help me
Tim do you have a video for Mouse shoulder ? I have a pain that runs along my triceps near shoulder and inside my bicep . I have heard this is newly prevalent from a combo of mouse clicking and thumb swiping , the pain ….is real
Mine was stubborn. Took a cortisone shot it worked for 8 months, had to take another one and splint and rest two weeks bc my job is very physical.... I'm going to do these exercises to hope it keeps it away.... Otherwise, surgery.
The massage, icing, and submaximal isometrics can be performed immediately after an injection. Then the other exercises can be added after the pain begins to decrease.
Just depends on how irritated the tendon is, if there’s just mild irritation then these could be performed everyday. However, if it’s moderate to severely irritated, then I would typically recommend 3-4x/week with a rest day in-between until the symptoms started to decrease. You should also check out my full article on this condition which explains things in much more detail. You can find it here: pttimewithtim.com/de-quervain-tenosynovitis-exercises/
Omgosh i thank you for this video im trying you very 1st excersise i hope it helps me going thru work related injury bc its very repetitive motion seen O health gave me exercises
You can find that information about the dosages in my in-depth article, which you can read here: pttimewithtim.com/de-quervain-tenosynovitis-exercises/. The article also describes alternative treatment options and lots of other important information that could help you with this condition. If you want a comprehensive exercise program that details out everything, you can also check out my full Home Exercise Program, which is here: pttimewithtim.myshopify.com/products/thumb-wrist-pain-exercises
Thank you for this is very helpful exercises, the doctor advised me to have surgery but i dont want surgery and thought that there maybe another way around and then I watched your video. Thank you so much
Thank you so much for this very well done video! I live in a rural area in the interior of Brazil and there is no opportunity to consult a therapist or a doctor knowledgeable in this type of injury unless I drive 2,5 hours away. I did not know I could massage and exercise to relieve the pain and was simply imobilizing my wrist with a wrist splint. Now I understand that is not the solution. I have had pain for about three weeks now after two days these exercises have already helped a lot. Questions: Should I only wear a brace when working with my hands? Should I wear a brace when sleeping? Are NSAIDs helpful to relieve pain (I have very little swelling)?
Mark, I’m so happy to hear this! Thanks for leaving a comment, it’s always great to hear from viewers. The wrist brace can be worn at night as well as throughout the day, but usually this is only needed when the symptoms are severe. Most people can get away with just wearing it throughout the day when working with their hands. NSAIDs can be helpful with this condition because it is an inflammatory issue at its core. You just don’t typically see any swelling, so short durations of NSAIDs can really help especially when symptoms are severe in the beginning of treatment. You should check out my in-depth article on this topic as I cover all topics on this condition, which should answer any of your potential questions. You can find it here: pttimewithtim.com/de-quervain-tenosynovitis-exercises/
I've been suffering from this for over 6 months. I've not got the money to see a doctor but the pain has me crying. I wrap my wrist constantly but because I am alone and no one to help with chores, I constantly end up screaming when I turn it the wrong way. It's excruciating. I have not gone to the ER because most videos state that there's really nothing ER they can do and pain meds are not easily available anymore. Plus I've never taken anything stronger than Motrin 800. As you were describing the exercises I was doing my best but I can't move it but a miniscule motion without letting out a screech. I'm worried it will never get better because of my age (60). I wake up in the morning and my thumb and fingers are so tight and stiff. Kind of scary to think about really. I'm going to look for this thumb/wrist brace. It looked like it might keep the pain at bay. Thanks for taking the time to help me and others solve this very life altering debilitating painful condition. I'll do the exercises best I can. God willing. My yard is looking bad and I can't get better soon enough!
Thanks for the comment, Natalie. I’m sorry to hear that this condition has gotten so bad with your hand. DeQuervains is an overuse condition and if someone continues to use the wrist tendon/s heavily, the condition will only continue to worsen. If I were treating someone with a severe case such as the one that you’ve described, I would likely recommend that they schedule an appointment with a hand specialist doctor to discuss the possibility of getting a corticosteroid injection. Unfortunately, it sounds like you may not have easy access to medical care. I do recommend that you take the time to read my full article on this condition as it provides a lot of great information on alternative treatment options and activities to avoid. You can find it here: pttimewithtim.com/de-quervain-tenosynovitis-exercises/
@@PTTimewithTim hey, I just saw your response today. I never expected you to respond but I want you to know how much I appreciate the fact that you did. I'm about to go to the link you shared. I did buy the wrist thumb splint. It has helped a lot! I can do more but the damage has been done and the injections are probably the only way that healing can begin. The wrist is such a bad area to hurt because you basically become handicapped. I always prided myself on my strength and flexibility so this has me at a disadvantage. I really appreciate your comment. It says something about you and your sincere desire to help people through your videos and your expertise. You've helped me more than you know! Big thanks!!!
@@grassrootstexas Thanks again for the lovely comment. You're totally right, our hands are used with almost every action that we do throughout the day and we don't really think about it until we have pain. It can be very limiting. Best of luck with your recovery!
Your so welcome Kristel! I’m happy to hear that. Unfortunately, I don’t have any videos on Diastasis Recti yet, but that a a good idea for the future 👍 You can also check out my website where I have free, in-depth articles on all of my topics that include causes, precautions, alternative treatment options, etc. pttimewithtim.com/
Thank you so much for this video! I have a 7-week old baby, and I started feeling thumb and wrist pain a couple of weeks ago. I'll try these exercises and will also buy the thumb spica splint and the flexbar.
Happy to hear about your newborn, but sorry to hear about your recent onset of wrist pain Esther. This is actually pretty common from the sudden increase in holding the baby, which your wrists were not used to doing beforehand. In your case, also try to sit in other supported positions rather than just holding the child, which will give the irritated thumb/wrist muscles some much-needed rest.
@@PTTimewithTim Yes, she has reflux and we have to burp her frequently and hold her upright for 20 minutes after every feeding, so I've been holding her a lot over my shoulders. I feel the pain mostly in my left thumb and wrist (my non-dominant hand). Thank you so much for the suggestion! I'll try other positions to give those muscles a rest.
Hard to put a # of weeks on it. Just depends on when you’re able to start gripping without pain. If you treat the injury quickly and get yourself in a thumb spica splint (wrist brace), then the pain should start to ease relatively quickly. Maybe 2-4 weeks, but all based on severity of symptoms because repetitive gripping is what causes this type of injury.
Unfortunately, flex bars are very unique in the kind of resistance that they provide. If you are unable to get one though, I would recommend just using a resistance band with the wrist flexion/extension exercises.
I work as a home service nurse and I'm taking care of a baby since he was a week old until now he's already 11 months, I feel pain on my wrist for more than one month now
I’m sorry to hear about your wrist pain. Give these exercises a try. I would also recommend a wrist cock-up brace that you can wear while working to help prevent overuse of the wrist.
Thanks so much! I do have two in-depth articles that will help you determine if you have DeQuervain's or Carpal Tunnel. You can find those two here: pttimewithtim.com/de-quervain-tenosynovitis-exercises/ pttimewithtim.com/carpal-tunnel-exercises/
Aloha Margaret, typically one should start immediately with the massage, icing, and submaximal isometrics and then progress to the strengthening exercises as soon as the pain starts to decrease.
I have De Quervain's for almost 2 months now. It's been going better, until I started doing these exercises. At first my tendons started to tickle, I thought it was a good sign, so I continued. But a few days later the tickling turned into pain. Did I overdo it? I'm an artist for a living, so I can't simply stop drawing, yet I practice different pen grips, they don't make much difference. I wear the splint and KT tape almost all the time, without exercises it makes it better, but as soon as I try to start grabbing objects or do exercises - it starts hurting immediately :( But thank you for sharing the video Doc! It's good to know that such people like you, who try to help without money, even exist.
I’m sorry to hear that. It is definitely possible that you may have pushed to aggressively with some of the harder, strengthening exercises. I would back off for a few days and start back at the beginning of the video with the massage, stretching, submaximal isometrics and ice massage until the pain begins to decrease and then slowly start adding in the harder exercises one by one. It’s also very important to wear the thumb spica splint at all times during the day to prevent you from using the thumb with daily activities since this condition is an overuse condition.
@@nulldata9832 Hello! Just came across your comment… have you gotten better now? I noticed your comment is from 8 months ago. Hope all is well! I’m going through the same phase
Hey there @@hotbbqporkbun8214! Unfortunately, I'm still experiencing the issue up to this moment. I had to stop drawing completely and start to learn programming just bc of this single issue. I rebuilt my lifestyle and habits, how I hold things (toothbrush, pc mouse, etc - now hold with my left hand, open bottles with my pinky finger, and so on). It doesn't hurt this way. But if I start doing things as usual, it starts hurting again. I wear the splint rarely, during flare ups. I still do exercises from time to time, and overall the condition is stable (unless aggravated by doing the wrong move). I plan to go to a doctor as soon as I get the money, most likely for a surgery, depending on what they'll tell me. So, basically, I'd advise you to try and find what aggravates the tendons, and try to find ways around. If you don't have the immediate remedy, that might help avoid pain temporarily.
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Thank you Dr Tim. This is a great video. Should I do these exercises everyday or should I have rest days for recovery purposes. Thank you in advance for your advice.
@@heavenhaven7254thanks for the comment and question. It’s completely understandable that the rubber band is causing pain with the thumb movement. In this case, I usually recommend that someone stops performing any exercise that increases the pain significantly and focus more on the easier exercises, gentle stretches and massage. Eventually the symptoms will decrease enough that they are then can return to that previously irritating exercise without any increases in pain. I highly recommend that you read my article on this topic as it goes into greater detail on ways to prevent DeQuervains and alternative treatment options that can also help. You can find it here: pttimewithtim.com/de-quervain-tenosynovitis-exercises/
Sorry to hear about your injury. Usually a traumatic injury like falling onto your wrist results in either a wrist ligament sprain, muscle strain, or even possibly a bone fracture. While these exercises are targeting DeQuervains Tenosybovitis, which is an overuse injury, some of the exercises such as the massaging of the sore muscles, submaximal isometrics, and eventually the wrist flexion and extension with resistance can help treat wrist sprains/strains. Getting a wrist cock-up splint/brace can also be a consideration temporarily to help relieve the stress on the injured structures.
